Last edit by: WineCountryUA
There is another thread for interlining bags when on separate PNR / tickets, see Bag Interlining Changes If Separate Tix with *A & Non *A Partners after 1 March 2015
Bag interlining (also known as “interline luggage”) is a voluntary commercial agreement between individual airlines to handle passengers bags traveling on itineraries that require multiple airlines, even if not the same alliance (if on a single PNR).
UA's interlining agreement list (May 2022)
Bag interlining (also known as “interline luggage”) is a voluntary commercial agreement between individual airlines to handle passengers bags traveling on itineraries that require multiple airlines, even if not the same alliance (if on a single PNR).
UA's interlining agreement list (May 2022)
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MAY CHECK BAGGAGE TO AA AC AD AF AH AI AM AR AS AV AW AX AY AZ A3 BA BB BE BI BM BR BT BW CI CM CS CX CZ DL EI EN ET EV EW EY FB FI FJ FM FV GA GF GK G3 HA HO HP HU HX IB JJ JL JO JP JQ J2 KA KC KE KG KL KM KQ KS KU KX LA LH LM LO LP LR LX LY MD ME MF MH MI MK MQ MS MU MX NH NU NX NZ OA OK OM OO OS OU OZ O6 PG PR PS PX PZ QF RO SA SK SN SQ SU SZ S2 S4 S7 TA TG TJ TK TP T0 UA UK UL UN UP UX VA VN VS VT VW WF WK WM WP WY XF XL XQ ZH 2K 3K 3M 3U 4B 4Q 4U 4Y 4Z 7C 7H 9B 9K 9W 9X
Bagagge - Connecting flights
For a trip that includes one or more connections, United will check bags to the final destination stated on the ticket. Your connecting flight must depart within 12 hours of your arrival at the airport in order for your bags to transfer automatically. United will generally transport checked baggage on the same flight as the traveler. If this is not practical, United will arrange to transport the baggage on the next flight with available space.
You'll need to claim and re-check baggage if you are:
For a trip that includes one or more connections, United will check bags to the final destination stated on the ticket. Your connecting flight must depart within 12 hours of your arrival at the airport in order for your bags to transfer automatically. United will generally transport checked baggage on the same flight as the traveler. If this is not practical, United will arrange to transport the baggage on the next flight with available space.
You'll need to claim and re-check baggage if you are:
- Making a voluntary stopover
- Making a connection that involves an overnight stay
- Connecting to an itinerary booked on a separate ticket that doesn't include a Star Alliance partner airline
- Traveling internationally and connecting to a domestic flight within your destination country
UA Interline Baggage Agreements (single PNR / ticket)
#31
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It is certainly correct that you should be able to check the bags through to HKG, but this does add to the risk. With separate tickets, things can get bad.
I would be willing to risk this w/o bags. But I rarely travel with bags so don't really know how much that ups the risk.
You say the CX flight is your only option? Both CX and BR fly this like bus routes (and CI, but I assume you want to stick to *A). Even if you are on the direct UA SFO->TPE looks like you can get a 3 hour connection.
TPE is a fairly easy airport to connect in. But things can go wrong. If I was forced to check bags on this route, I would look for a later flight.
But still, I would expect all to work fine for you. So if this is a done decision, just relax and enjoy the trip.
I would be willing to risk this w/o bags. But I rarely travel with bags so don't really know how much that ups the risk.
You say the CX flight is your only option? Both CX and BR fly this like bus routes (and CI, but I assume you want to stick to *A). Even if you are on the direct UA SFO->TPE looks like you can get a 3 hour connection.
TPE is a fairly easy airport to connect in. But things can go wrong. If I was forced to check bags on this route, I would look for a later flight.
But still, I would expect all to work fine for you. So if this is a done decision, just relax and enjoy the trip.
Thank you for you all. I learned a lot from this conversation.
#32
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People should not confuse interlining with airlines' policy on checking bags to the final destination when the travel is on separate tickets. The correct question would be not just if a particular airline has an interline agreement with another airline but whether, in addition to the interline agreement, a particular airline has a policy that allows checking in a bag to another carrier on separate tickets. BA has interline agreements with all major airlines but they won't check-in a bag outside of OneWorld alliance if travel is on separate tickets.
Most airlines have this policy clearly spelled out on the websites.
#33
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It's true that policies about interlining on separate tickets vary, with BA and US having particularly restrictive ones. But in this instance, both UA and CX will interline bags across separate tickets without hesitation (providing the agent has the competence). Since OP is GS, I don't think there's really any reasonable doubt it will be done for him.
I have done this multiple times on both these airlines and it has not been an issue, most recently three weeks ago on a CX to OZ/UA connection ex-HKG.
#34
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 4,187
sure they do
[KVS Availability Tool 7.4.2 - Reference: Interline Agreements [IET]: UA]
[KVS Availability Tool 7.4.2 - Reference: Interline Agreements [IET]: UA]
Code:
ELECTRONIC INTERLINE CARRIER AGREEMENTS-UA
INTERLINE CARRIER CODES
AA - AB - AC - AF - AH - AI - AM - AR - AS - AV
AX - AY - AZ - A3 - BA - BE - BI - BR - BT - BW
B7 - CA - CI - CM - CX - CZ - C5 - DL - EH - EI
EK - EL - EN - EQ - ET - EV - EY - FB - FI - FJ
FM - FV - FW - FZ - GA - GF - G3 - G7 - HA - HO
HU - HX - H2 - IB - IQ - JJ - JL - JP - JQ - J2
KA - KC - KE - KF - KL - KM - KQ - KS - KU - KX
LA - LG - LH - LO - LP - LR - LW - LX - LY - MD
ME - MF - MH - MI - MK - MQ - MS - MU - NH - NQ
NU - NX - NZ - OA - OK - OM - OO - OS - OU - OV
OZ - O6 - PG - PK - PR - PS - PX - PZ - QF - QR
RJ - RO - SA - SK - SN - SQ - SU - SV - S2 - S5
S7 - TA - TG - TK - TP - T0 - UA - UL - UN - UO
UP - US - UX - VA - VK - VN - VS - VW - WM - WP
WY - XF - XL - ZH - ZK - 2V - 3M - 4C - 4M - 4Q
4U - 7H - 9K - 9W
#35
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There are 3 types of Interline Agreements: Baggage, Paper Ticket and E-Ticket. The latter is the 'highest' level of co-operation, which includes Baggage interlining.
#36
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You're talking about an interline ticketing agreement. As mentioned earlier, that's not the only kind of interline agreement. When we are talking about checking bags through across separate tickets, we are talking about an interline baggage agreement. UA and CX have one of those, so the answer to OP's question, is "yes, you can do that."
Which is why I am saying that existence of an agreement in now way guarantees that the bags will be checked through on separate tickets.
#37
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No one is claiming it's "guaranteed." I stated in my first responsive post here that interlining bags is at the discretion of the agent. As a GS, OP has little reason to be concerned about that.
#38
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As United's website is silent in this regard, my advice would be to call and ask what their policy is.
#39
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The QF situation is a (hopefully) unusual one. QF policy changed a few years ago to screw over anyone connecting to a non-OW carrier issued on a separate ticket by not interlining luggage. Interlining is still possible, because interlining on the same ticket still has to work, but they choose to refuse to do it otherwise.
#40
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#41
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#42
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There is usually no problem if everything is on one ticket (unless a specific airport has some restrictions or when the length of connection is of a certain duration). Problems arise when a passenger is travelling on separate tickets as many airlines, still maintaining interline agreements with many other airlines, have issued policies in the last few years prohibiting through check-in of bags unless the onward travel is on a partner/alliance member. No discretion of an agent will be of help in such a situation.
#43
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Results from ExpertFlyer.com
Code:
Interline Agreements: Flying UA E-Ticket Interline Agreements AA AB AC AF AH AI AM AR AS AV AX AY AZ A3 BA BB BD BE BI BR BT BW CA CI CM CO CX CZ DL EI EK EN EQ ET EY FB FI FJ FM FV FZ GA GF G3 HA HO HU HX H2 IB IT JJ JL JP JQ J2 KA KC KE KF KL KM KQ KS KU KX LA LG LH LO LP LR LW LX LY MD ME MF MH MI MK MS MU NH NU NX NZ OA OK OM OS OU OV OZ PG PK PR PS PU PX PZ QF QR RJ RO SA SK SN SQ SU SV S2 S7 TA TG TK TP UL UN UO UP US UX VA VK VN VS VW WM WP WY XF XL ZH ZK 3M 4M 4Q 4U 7H 9K 9W Paper Ticket and Baggage Interline Agreements MAY ISSUE TICKETS INCLUDING AA AB AC AF AH AI AM AR AS AV AX AY AZ A3 BA BB BE BI BR BT BW CA CI CM CO CS CX CZ DL EI EK EN EQ ET EV EY FB FI FJ FM FV FZ GA GF GK G3 HA HO HP HU HX H2 IB JJ JL JO JP JQ J2 KA KC KE KL KM KQ KS KU KX LA LG LH LO LP LR LW LX LY MD ME MF MH MI MK MQ MS MU MX NH NU NX NZ OA OK OM OO OS OU OV OZ PG PK PR PS PX PZ QF QR RJ RO SA SK SN SQ SU SV SZ S2 S7 TA TG TK TP T0 UA UL UN UO UP US UX VA VF VN VS VW WM WP WY XF XL ZH ZK 3K 3M 4M 4Q 4U 7H 9K 9W MAY CHECK BAGGAGE TO AA AB AC AF AH AI AM AR AS AV AX AY AZ A3 BA BB BE BI BR BT BW CI CM CO CS CX CZ DL EI EK EN EQ ET EV EY FB FI FJ FM FV FZ GA GF GK G3 HA HO HP HU HX H2 IB JJ JL JO JP JQ J2 KA KC KE KL KM KQ KS KU KX LA LH LO LP LR LW LX LY MD ME MF MH MI MK MQ MS MU MX NH NU NX NZ OA OK OM OO OS OU OV OZ PG PK PR PS PX PZ QF QR RJ RO SA SK SN SQ SU SV SZ S2 S7 TA TG TK TP T0 UA UL UN UO UP US UX VA VF VN VS VW WM WP WY XF XL ZH ZK 3K 3M 4M 4Q 4U 7H 9K 9W
#44
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Sorry, but I think it is a bad advice. Were an airline sets a policy agents have no discretion. If interlining bags on separate tickets is not allowed then through check-in will happen only through negligence or mistake of an agent. Similarly, if an airline allows interlining bags on separate tickets then no discretion, but rather lack of training, of an agent will prevent a customer from having their bags checked through.
As United's website is silent in this regard, my advice would be to call and ask what their policy is.
As United's website is silent in this regard, my advice would be to call and ask what their policy is.
The discussion is about interlining on separate tickets.
#45
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Yeah I was the victim of the ORD 1K checkin desk claiming they couldn't interline bags to Fly Dubai (FZ) a couple days ago. I got tired of waiting around for them to find a supervisor as they were then worried about my visa to Saudi Arabia (which I have), but my ticket was only to Dubai and my baggage after they said they don't do FZ interline anymore, was to Dubai. Total waste of time and finally gave up. Got to Dubai and Dnata actually stepped up and said yes FZ interlines with United with the latest 1 year agreement.
I was shocked when my bags came out on the carousel in Saudi. Great job Dnata and please UA look for my complaint soon.
I was shocked when my bags came out on the carousel in Saudi. Great job Dnata and please UA look for my complaint soon.